There has been so many amazing things this trip. So many I want to share with you. But I know inboxes fill quickly. Here are a couple notes from guests. The first is from Baylor Student Sofie Thurston followed by GIBTK board member Linda Shaul
Here's Sofie's note, 19 years old Baylor Student;
"Vietnam is like nothing I have ever seen before. Many people have been asking me what it is like here and I cannot find the right words to explain it because it is so completely different. One word that I can say with confidence about the city of Danang is beauty. Each and every aspect of the city beams with beauty, from the architecture, to the fields of crops, but the beauty is most apparent through the people that reside in the city of Danang. Each and every person that I have met so far has come with a story of perseverance, strength, love, hope, and the utmost beauty. The people of Danang share a culture that is strong willed, pushing through every hard ship that is thrown at them. Their strength is truly inspiring.
Today when we visited our first compassion house, my heart was moved by a single mom who raised two extremely gifted daughters despite the struggles of losing their father to brain cancer. The younger of the two girls managed to walk thirty minutes to school and back and still excel in school. The older had the dream to attend college in hopes for a bright future. Hearing their story really put life into perspective.
Here I was watching these two little girls sob at the thought of being able to ride their bike to school and the chance to attend college, while I never once gave a second thought to how I was getting to school and how going to college was an expectation, not a dream. These young girls opened my eyes to all of the things that I take for granted. It was humbling to witness how these amazing women remain hope in the darkest of times.
Through this experience, I witnessed the most beauty I have ever encountered, the beauty of strength, courage, and the will to defy all the odds and reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Although our team was sent to change their lives today, they have changed my life in ways that they will never know. Danang, you are beautiful."
Sofie
Next is a more detailed story written by board member and friend Linda Shaul. A family who has A family who has ridden through a stormy life and still retained Hope. Sofie touched on it, things we never give a second thought too. The time spent was amazing, at every turn experiencing how emotional they got. For instance when the entire family sobbed at news of a bike so the youngest would not need to do the 30-minute walk anymore.
"Today I looked at the world through the eyes of a Vietnamese mother. The team traveled out in the countryside to provide a Compassion Home for a mom and her family. The home had a dirt floor, two beds and very little else. The walls and roof were made from cast off materials and holes were apparent throughout. It was easy to see what happens when it rains. What they had was as clean and as well cared for as was possible. They wore their best clothes which were clean and also had holes in them. The daughter's achievement certificates from school were proudly tacked to one wall.
The mom's husband passed away from brain cancer eight years ago. Mom was left with three daughters and supported them by working in the rice fields. She encouraged her daughters to be good students. Her oldest daughter completed two years at University, then had to drop out due to lack of finances. Mom's back became too painful to work long hours in the field. She wished for another way to earn money to provide for her children. Her oldest daughter married last year and now lives with her husband.
The two remaining daughters are both good students. The oldest has just completed high school and taken the exams for university. After some tutoring at Lighthouse this summer, she is hopeful that she passed the exams. When I asked her what she wanted to study she said she would like to be a teacher, but she has no money to go to school. Her younger sister just completed 6th grade. She walks over 30 minutes each way to go to school.
After we visited with them for a bit, Tommy was able to tell them that they will receive a Compassion Home made of concrete, to keep them safe and dry in the weather. The daughter that just graduated will continue to pursue her dream of a university education and have the benefits of living at Lighthouse. The youngest daughter will receive a bicycle to help her get to school. Mom will have a medical exam to determine if there is anything that can be done to help with her pain.
The tears of happiness, disbelief and utter joy on all their faces just flowed. Finally, Tam asked her what her wish was before we came. She said she had wished a long time for a cow so it would help provide income for her family and she could take care of it at home. At that moment they brought a cow into the yard for her. Again, more tears and joy at answered hope. Opportunities to provide shelter, food and education for her children. As a mom I could only imagine her heartache these past years in what she could not provide for her daughters, and the current hopes now realized for their future.
While we came to give a home to a family in great need, I love that GIBTK takes the time to see and look at what else may be needed, helpful or provide some more opportunity for dreams to come true. So grateful to be a part of the GIBTK team."
Linda Shaul
www.gibtk.org
Robert Kalatschan
Giving It Back To Kids
